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HR manager tells worker they can't work remote whilst working remote: 'It is 100% about control'

Walking the walk of your own talk is important as a leader as it shows that you're willing to stand by the words that are coming out of your own mouth. It also helps your subordinates realize that there's no hypocrisy at play and that the rules and requirements you're enforcing apply to everyone equally.

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Posted by Brad Dickson
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  • So, then, you can see how it might come across as disingenuous to tell an employee that they can no longer work from the comfort of their home whilst you yourself are doing so. Whatever reason you give is just going to come across as hollow and disingenuous unless they're in a role where they simply must work on-site (and not just because you said so.)

    Still, that didn't stop this HR manager from telling an employee that they were no longer allowed to work from home for one day a week as they had been previously… even though the HR manager themselves and other "prominent" members of the company worked from home and remote basically whenever they wished. Despite this and a detailed plan that the employee provided, the HR manager refused to relent, insisting that the employee return to the office full-time.

    The frustrated worker shared their experience with this popular online community, expressing how they felt that the decision was more about control than anything to do with their role or performance. See their post below, along with the advice and comments that were shared and provided by other members of the community.

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  • 1
    Posted by u/slicebishybosh 5 hours ago [ Was told I could not work from home 1 day a week by the HR manager who works from home. I have a 6 month old daughter and my wife and I have worked out a good schedule that allows us to take care of her for the 4 days a week that we both have to work. Part of this would require me to work from home 1 day a week (the same day every week). I was able to do it for a few weeks at the end of last year but for the last 2 months my MIL has been in town living wi
    Via u/slicebishybosh
  • 2
    Fast Forward to yesterday and I request to be able to work from home the one day again. I'm told "We thought you would have figured out a solution by now. You are required to be at work every day." This was told to me by the Head of HR who was conferenced called into the meeting because they work remotely (in another city). There are several others in prominent positions that work remotely full time, part time, or whenever they choose.
    Via u/slicebishybosh
  • 3
    Several others, including the owners sons/nephews will say the morning of "They're working from home because the nanny is sick" and that's if they they even bother showing up. The WFH is a free for all and so many use it and others abuse it. They claim my role requires me to be in the office every day. There are definitely aspects of my role that require me to be physically there. But there is more than plenty that doesn't require me to be there as well. I laid out my plan of what I would be acc
    Via u/slicebishybosh
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  • 4
    Meanwhile all the others I mentioned that are remote create a daily burden for all the rest of us. It is 100% about control. Some days I like my job. Others days I absolutely hate it.
    Via u/slicebishybosh
  • 5
    Cozarkian 4 hr. ago Yep, it's about control to the point of stupidity. At my work, anyone in my position who has been there for 2 years can remote 4 days per week. They pay for my public transportation and will reimburse me for parking 2x per month if for some reason "I need to drive." On top of that, last year they started giving a parking stipend to employees assigned to a location that doesn't have free parking available, so now I get a parking stipend that I never have to spend on parking be
    Via u/slicebishybosh
  • 6
    Every piece of paper that comes into the office gets scanned, so I can do 100% of my work on a computer, I rarely talk to anyone other than two admins when I'm in the office, and the nature of my job is deadline-driven, so if I slack off it will be noticed and I'll be fired within a week. Given the number of people with my position, the company could save about $6,000 per month by letting us work remote 5 days per week without any loss of productivity, but no, the executive-level officers have f
    Via u/slicebishybosh
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  • 7
    It's a very dumb decision based on the need to feel in control and the delusion of keeping an "office community," but overall, I'm not complaining. 45 Reply Share slicebishybosh OP. 3 hr. ago The community used to be something I enjoyed, actually. It is far from that now. 46 Reply Share
    Via u/slicebishybosh
  • 8
    Washedupcynic. 2 hr. ago Time to find another job that better meets your needs and give this company the heave Reply Share Vote
    Via u/slicebishybosh
  • 9
    davenport6512 hr. ago I know you can't do it with a wife and kids depending on you (I've been there!), but this is one of those times when it would be totally appropriate to draw a hard line and say "if you can't meet this basic accommodation, I'm done." I'd guess they'd turn over really quick if you actually walked away. They know they have you by the now because of your situation. ↑ Vote Reply Share
    Via u/slicebishybosh

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workplace discussion employment issues remote antiwork workplace-stories remote work jobs employment-discussion hr job work human resources workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace

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